German airline Lufthansa today announced the cancellation of “almost all” of its flights to and from the main airports of Frankfurt and Munich tomorrow, Friday, due to a pilot strike.
Europe’s biggest carrier will cancel 800 flights through September 2 due to the strike announced last night following negotiations over wage increases, according to a statement, which said “130,000 passengers are affected”.
The strike, which concerns Lufthansa companies and Lufthansa cargo, but not Eurowings, is expected to last from one minute after midnight (00:01) local time (01:00 tomorrow Friday, Greek time) until 23: 59 (00:59 on Saturday, Greek time).
“New negotiations (…) have failed,” the Vereinigung Cockpit union, which is demanding 5.5% wage increases, automatic inflation compensation and other adjustments, announced overnight.
Lufthansa said it “doesn’t understand at all” the reasons for the strike action after a difficult summer for the airline sector due to airport staff shortages and a ground staff strike at the end of July that also grounded hundreds of flights.
The group said it offered its pilots “to receive in two phases a total increase of 900 euros per month”.
“Lufthansa must make a better offer,” said Marcel Grohls, a union official.
Lufthansa employs around 5,500 pilots in passenger and freight transport. The Vereinigung Cockpit is the only trade union that represents them.
A consultation on the principle of a strike at the end of July had given a majority of 98% in favor of pilot strike action in passenger transport and 99% in Cargo with a turnout of around 95%.
The group reached an agreement in early August with the Verdi union representing ground staff.
Employees will receive an increase of 200 euros per month and then an additional 2.5% in early 2023 and 2.5% in July 2023.
SOURCE: APE-ME
Source: Capital
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